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Low birth rate, decrease in immigration of youths forces army's manpower branch to boost monitoring of those seeking exemption for medical, religious reasons while encouraging women to assume more positions

Yossi Yehoshua Published: 07.21.08, 11:00 / Israel News

As if draft-dodging wasn't already taking a considerable bite out of the IDF's ranks, it now appears that this year's draft may encounter the smallest age group set for military service in 20 years.

This is the peak of the 12% decline in IDF recruits, which began four years ago. The key factor is the relatively low birth rate two decades ago as well as a decrease in the number of immigrants coming to Israel while of a drafting age.

Sources in the IDF’s Department of Planning and Manpower Administration estimate that the shortage will be felt primarily in the rear corps and logistic support units. In order to prepare for the possible deficit, the IDF will begin stationing more female soldiers in combat-support positions, freeing more male soldiers for combat units.

The army has voiced its disappointment in the low representation of women in combat units, even though those opened their doors to women almost a decade ago. Only 2% of women volunteer to be combat fighters.

And where do the new recruits wish to serve? Topping the list is the Golani Brigade; where three recruits compete for each opening. The brigade boasts an increase from August 2007, when only two were competing for each position in hopes of scoring the iconic brown beret.

The recruitment data for August 2008 obtained by Yedioth Ahronoth shows a 0.6% increase in the motivation of recruits to serve in combat positions, with 67.9% of this year's summer draft choosing to serve in combat units compared to 67.3% in August of last year. The highest motivation level of the past two years was registered in March 2008, when more than 70% volunteered for combat service.

In order to stem the decline in the number of recruits, the military plans to boost its monitoring of youths seeking exemptions from service both before their enlistment, and after it. The past year has shown that stepping up the supervision on exemptions has yielded positive results.

The main challenge the army faces are the exemptions given to those who declare themselves religious but in actuality are not, a trend which is only expected to increase in the coming years

I will organize a new period with SAR EL on march 2009. Last time i was in an evangelical group: their first motivation is religious and some did not respect the main rule: proselytisme forbidden : bringing the jews to jesus remains a priority for them! recently a christian woman was deported from the base because she gave a new testament to a soldier...this new group i am gathering is composed of army reservists and policemen; i hope it will ameliorate the growing good relatios between our 2 armies ...
If some frenchmen are reading this message i still have a few places!

I will organize a new period with SAR EL on march 2009. Last time i was in an evangelical group: their first motivation is religious and some did not respect the main rule: proselytisme forbidden : bringing the jews to jesus remains a priority for them! recently a christian woman was deported from the base because she gave a new testament to a soldier...this new group i am gathering is composed of army reservists and policemen; i hope it will ameliorate the growing good relatios between our 2 armies ...
If some frenchmen are reading this message i still have a few places!

Hello there,

Just wanted again to express my gratitude towards you and people like you who're doing such things and giving us the soldiers so much hope.

If you ever need some strings to be pulled for your group, as an IAF officer now in keva, I might be able to help you out.
I do not enter this forum much, but you can always try and pm me.

in the base nobody knows you are not jewish, but when you tell it to soldiers they are really in admiration, one soldier born in paris even cried to see there are also non-jewish french citizens who support them strongly
Of course we are peeling potatoes like all soldiers and we had a lot of fun! we didn't expect the army to give us a rifle to fight the Hamas, especialy at 50 year old

in the group of 12 volunteers i gathered to go there next month nobody defected in spite of the events! most of these non-jewish french former soldiers have never been there yet, so: congratulation for their wonderful support!

in the base nobody knows you are not jewish, but when you tell it to soldiers they are really in admiration, one soldier born in paris even cried to see there are also non-jewish french citizens who support them strongly
Of course we are peeling potatoes like all soldiers and we had a lot of fun! we didn't expect the army to give us a rifle to fight the Hamas, especialy at 50 year old

You are an excellent example of French people who love Israel! I am so happy to see they exist! Thank you for your service to Israel!

__________________Shalom to everyone! No extremeis good. Neitherin religion, nor in science.
"If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence.. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel."
~ Golda Meir~

I realise this is an old thread reserrected, but my own thanks to all who do voluntary work whether with IDF or MDA or in health instutions and wherever.

My younger daughter is off on a Sar-el scheme next month, and I don't know who is more excited - her or me

I thank your daughter for her service to Israel

Thank you for being excited for her service lol.

__________________Shalom to everyone! No extremeis good. Neitherin religion, nor in science.
"If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence.. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel."
~ Golda Meir~

You're welcome Ron. In fact I only found out about the Sar-el short stay schemes on israelmilitary.net forum a week or so ago. Franklin mentioned he wanted to go on Sar-el, and I didn't know what that was. I googled it and it is a whole new opportunity opening up for her. Just goes to show how things happen doesn't it? She knew about Sar-el doing longer schemes as part of a gap year, but she didn't know about the two week or three week schemes that they do all year round.

And what's more is I plan to go towards the end of 2010. My daughter is making Aliyah in September 2010, so I will wait till she is off my hands before I go on Sar-el for two or three weeks. And I will be avoiding the very hot weather which I don't like. Temperatures below 30 degrees centigrade is fine with me though.

__________________"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Albert Einstein

You're welcome Ron. In fact I only found out about the Sar-el short stay schemes on israelmilitary.net forum a week or so ago. Franklin mentioned he wanted to go on Sar-el, and I didn't know what that was. I googled it and it is a whole new opportunity opening up for her. Just goes to show how things happen doesn't it? She knew about Sar-el doing longer schemes as part of a gap year, but she didn't know about the two week or three week schemes that they do all year round.

And what's more is I plan to go towards the end of 2010. My daughter is making Aliyah in September 2010, so I will wait till she is off my hands before I go on Sar-el for two or three weeks. And I will be avoiding the very hot weather which I don't like. Temperatures below 30 degrees centigrade is fine with me though.

That is excellent, thank you for being a friend of Israel!

__________________Shalom to everyone! No extremeis good. Neitherin religion, nor in science.
"If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence.. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel."
~ Golda Meir~

I went with 12 christian friends from the army reserve to serve once more Tsahal
on this video you see what kind of job we did and the places we visited during our free time with the army or during our free time

Thanks for that link Philtang. I think it is amazing that non-Jewish people participate in Sar-el. Thanks to all the people that do. I think Sar-el is such a valuable contribution to Israel's safety etc. I can't wait to do my time there which will be in late 2010. It's going to be fantastic. I know people praise the volunteers of Sar-el for making such a contribution, but to be honest the volunteers are also gaining something. It is hard work, I know, but only during the day. The evenings are times to relax and chill out with new friends and the weekend gives the volunteers an opportunity to explore the land. I admire you for organising the groups Philtang, and hope you keep us updated with what you are doing and your trips there as I am sure all admirers of Israel would be interested. Well done.

__________________"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Albert Einstein

allright it´s on. Will arrive on the 23th of January 2010 for my first Sar-El Trip. A special chance to support your brave country and became a very small part of one of the worlds finest fighting forces. Looking very much forward to it.